Independence Front

New Caledonia

Independence Front changes tack after September 5 poll

Following what they termed “The massive anti-Kanak vote” for Rightwing Deputy Jacques Lafleur in the September 5 by election (PIM Oct pi 5), New Caledonia’s Independence Front has carried out a searching re view of its political strategy, and decided to take a tougher line with the French Government.

The IF held a major confer ence in mid-September. It pro duced a statement warning that the front will henceforth use its representation in the Government Council and the Territorial As sembly to move towards its goal of Kanak socialist independence.

But, the statement went on, if the front sees there is no possibility of achieving this objective, it will consider withdrawing from both bodies. (The IF has a major ity in both, in coalition with the Centre party FNSC.) The last half of September saw a number of other politically charged events in the territory.

On September 19, first an niversary of the murder in his Noumea suburban home of Pier re Declercq, secretary-general of

the largest pro-independence par

ty, Union Caledonienne, memo rial services were attended by more than 3000 people. A church service was held at Conception, which is both the tribal home of the pro-independence Melane sian Deputy Roch Pidjot, and the place where Declercq is buried.

Graveside speeches which re called Declercq’s life and work

were given by Deputy Pidjot, by

Declercq’s successor as Union Caledonienne’s secretary general, Eloi Machoro, and by the president of the Pierre De clercq Memorial Committee, Christian Burck.

Mr Machoro said that De clercq had left the Independence Front “a legacy of unity and trust”, and stressed the determi nation of the front to succeed in

achieving independence.

After the speeches, the crowd staged a silent march for the

several kilometres to the De clercq home.

Although a year has passed since Declercq’s murder, no trial has yet been held, and prime suspect Dominique Canon has been released on bail (PIM Sep. pi 9). The second man arrested, Martin Barthelemy (PIM Oct. p 7), a Ni-Vanuatu, has been charged with premeditated mur der. The state prosecutor has said that the arrest of Barthelemy in no way affects the charges against Canon. He added that factors in the new arrest were that Barthelemy’s presence near the victim’s home on the night of the murder had been established.

He was unable to account for why he was there, and the state ment he gave police at the time had been false.

Five days after the Declercq memorial activities, on Septem ber 24, 129th anniversary of French settlement in New Caledonia in 1853, a large Melanesian festival was held in Noumea’s Place des Cocotiers.

At least 12,000 people turned up for a day of cultural displays and political speeches.

Organised by the Independ ence Front, the day departed rad ically from earlier observances of the anniversary, which have been promoted as “days of mourn ing”, and of protest political activity.

This year’s theme was one of celebration of Melanesian cul ture, and of the Melanesian pre sence in New Caledonia.

All races were invited to par ticipate, but very few Europeans responded. One Right wing far-

to an area which includes all of Noumea and the area south of the capital. “We are aware that part of the claimed zone is inhabited by a large number of strangers brought to our land by colonisa tion,” the clans say in an Open Letter to French High Commis sioner Christian Nucci. “We are ready to give them a place, but first of all justice must be done. ’ ’

The clans assured Mr Nucci that the land claim was not mere ly symbolic, and that they would not desist until satisfaction was gained. Most of the seven clans involved are associated with the Union Caledonienne. A UC spokesman, Yeiwene Yeiwene, said the land claim should be seen in the context of eventual claims for all of New Caledonia. • Most of the 22 young men arrested following the July 22 invasion of the Territorial As sembly (PIM Sep pi 9), received sentences ranging from eight to 20 days jail, and fines up to the equivalent of SA27O. Two of those arrested were acquitted.

The charges laid were “vio lence” and “molestation of members of the Territorial Assembly.”

However, Noumea business man Henri Morini, who was charged with “complicity” in the invasion i.e., organisation of it was sentenced to 45 days imprisonment.

Since all of those charged, including Mr Morini, had al ready spent considerable time in jail, their sentences have in fact

mers’ organisation, RURALE, formally asked its members not to attend. However, IF leaders viewed the day as a success.

The French Council of Minis ters has, meanwhile, given the go-ahead for the first four re forms for the territory. France decided in December last year to rule New Caledonia by decree, and to implement a series of economic, social and judicial reforms.

Those now being put into ef fect concern land reform, the establishment of an Office of Melanesian Culture and Identity, the economic development of the interior and the offshore islands, and the incorporation of some Melanesian customary law into the judicial system.

The most important and con troversial reform is that concern ing land reform. It allows a Lands Commission to buy back land for Melanesian custom own ers. All interested parties far mers, the state, and tribal owners will be represented on the commission.

Underlining the volatility of the land question, a group of Melanesian clans has laid claim

been served.

Helen Fraser.

Pierre Declercq’s widow, Maguitte, with Deputy Roch Pidjot at the memorial service and (below) outside the church a banner pro claims Declercq a white martyr to a black cause.